Method and apparatus for manufacturing absorbent pads



Em? PADS H. R. WILLIAMS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING ABSO'RBFiled April 10,1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1' v INVENTOR fiarrlsarllfml/l'a'm-iATTORNEYS" ENT PADS' July 13, 1937. H WILLJAMS METHOD AND APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING ABSORB 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed AprillO, 1929 ENT PADS J1ly13, 11937. i H. R. WILLIAMS :METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACT RINGABSORB Filed April 10, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 s Rm Y m 0 vW r n man A 0 rm July 13, 1937. H. R.IWILLIAMS 2,086,757

METHOD AND APPARATU Filed A ril 10, 1929 5 FOR MANUFACTURING AB SORBENTPADS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INvEm'pR Huff/500R. Will/mm.

ATTORNEYQ 5 that ent'ers the pad so that the fluid Pat nted July 13,1937

' METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR. MANUFAC- v TUBING ABSORBENT PADS ApplicationApril 10,1929, Serial 23 Claims.

, ."jThe present invention relates pad within the wrapper, the padconsistingof a material which is readily disintegrable inwaterand'maytherefore be readily the household plumbing system. [While someof the vention are applicable to all types of napkins that fall underthe above description, these features are disclosed herein as applied toa napkin which utilizes loosely-felted fibrated wood pulp as theabsorbent material. It is to be understood, however, that these-featuresare not to be limited by the "present disclosure; Persons skilled in thekins; One of the featuresof the presentin'vention resides in providing amethod for the' continuous manufacture of such napkins and providing alayer of circumfusing material disposed interiorly of the pad thecircumfusing material serving to absorb and spread laterally of the padthe fluid is held inte-;

riorly ofthe pad and will not pass to the under face of the'pad ornapkin.

Another object of the present invention is to embody interiorly of thepad a deodorizing or dis- "rnaterial. The deodorizing material is p,applied during the process of manufacture ofthe pad in such a mannerthat it is retained interiorly of the pad.

The manner of applica'tionof the deodorizing preferab 35 material and ofthe circumfusing material is such that the circumfusingrnaterial, 'whichrnay be in the form of a starchsolution or the like, serves toqretainthe deodor'izing material, which is usually in the form of a powder,within the pad '40 arid serve'sto prevent? the powder from losing its 50user of way out of thepad in the process of packaging and transportationof the napkins. a Another feature of the present invention is toconstruct a pad of the type-described having its 5 sidesa'nd lower faceprovided with a water repellant material so as to further obviate thepossibility of any of the fluid which has entered the pad, from passingout of its lower face-or sides. In order to prevent such napkins'thenapkinthat' constitutes an embodiment provided with indicia which theuser the waterproofed face clearly. indicates to of the napkin.

Another object of the invention isto provide 5 methods and apparatus foreconomically manuto an improved absorbent sanitary napkin of the typewhich comprises aflgauze wrapperand' an absorbent disposed of throughfeatures of the presentin illustrated in the accompanying drawings artwill beable to applyany of the features of the presentinvention to. all"types of sanitary nap any possible errors by the of the presentinvention is also :inorder to showv the structure 'I larrison Williams,New YorkpN. Y.

facturing the napkin of the characterdescribed, One of the features ofthe methods and appara-' tus resides inthe fact that the introduction ofthedeodorant and the circumfusing material and the application of theindicia and of the waterproofing treatment, are conducted in such amanner that they do not interfere with the continuous production of thenapkins;

A preferred embodiment of the invention is which I constitute part. ofthe present application, the

illustrate such embodimentand are not to be understood as limiting theinvention to any specific form or any specific porherein. Manymodifications of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart, the scopein the appended claims.

In the drawings: v v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of that portion of the apparatus which showsthe formation of a duplex webv of fibrated wood pulp having disposedinteriorly thereof a deodorant, circumfusing material, and a strip ofgauze reinforcingmaterial.

Fig. 1a is a modified form of the apparatus shownin Fig. 1. j

Fig.2 is a side elevation apparatus to which the duplex the portionshown in Fig. apparatus showing; the application of several layers ofsheeted cellulose to the duplex web or absorbent material and alsoshowing the manner of the portionnof the web is fed from 1, this portionof the inwhich the sheeted cellulose iswrapped around the duplex web.

Fig. 3' is a side elevation of, a third portion of thisportion of theapparatus succeeding portions of the web are severed and these arewrapped in gauze. v I

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a fourth portion of the apparatus whichshows the last step of the process wherein the gauze covering is severedat the points intermediate the pads contained therein. r

Fig. 5 is adiagr ammatic view of the lower web of absorbent material.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the complete'dnapkin.

Fig. '7 is a plan. view of the napkin with the ends unfolded and brokenoff and certain portions of-the several layers thereof broken away indetail. transverse section of the completed 8--8of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a napkin taken on the line duplex strip covered 7 during itsFig. 9 is a plan view of the sheet cellulose covering as it would appearas unfolded from the p Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line ill-l0 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view of the relationship of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and4.

While many features of the present invention may be applied to napkinswhose absorbent pads may be made of a large variety of materials, theabsorbent and readily disintegrable material utilized in theconstruction of napkins as shown herein is fibrated wood pulp. Thismaterial is soft; fiuily, short-fibered and has highly absorptivequalities and is readily disintegrable in water. The fibrated wood pulpmay be manufacmanner desired and is then fed into the bicameralreceptacle shown sisting of the two chambers or conduits 2 and 2athrough the pipe 3.

The partition 3a into the two conduits 2 and 2a is preferably mounted sothat it may be adjusted vertically and thereby control the amount offibrated wood pulp that enters the two conduits or chambers 2 and 2a.For this purpose the partition 3a is provided with integral baseportions 4, each of these portions carrying a bolt which passes througha slot in the wall of the pipe 3, the slot being covered on the exteriorof the pipe 3.by the elongated cap 5. While it is generally desirable tomake the two webs of substantially the same thickness the movablepartition 3a is provided to vary the amount of flow of fibrated woodpulp into the conduits 2 and 2a respectively when it is desired tocounteract the effect of gravity upon the wood pulp. Moreover, it maysometimes be desirable to vary the relative thickness of the webs. Undersuch conditions the vertical adjustment of the partition 3a will providefor the proper distribution of the fibrated wood pulp.

Two conduits and la lead from a suction pump (not shown) to the chambers2 and 211 respectively. Endless belt 6', preferably formed of wire mesh,passes through the chamber 2. This belt may be actuated in any wellknown manner as by power applied to the roller 22. The belt is alsoprovided with idler rollers 8 and 9 and'with a tightening roller l0. 1The suction created through conduit l causes a continuous layer 20 ofloose fibrated wood pulp to be deposited upon the wire mesh conveyorbelt dur-" ing its passage through the chamber 2. l

A similar apparatus cooperates with the chamber 2a. A similar endlessbelt 6a also preferably formed of wire mesh passes through chamber 2a.The belt 6a may be actuated by power applied to the roller la and isprovided with an idler 8a and a tightening pulley Illa.

The suction created through conduit Ia causes a continuous layer 20a ofloose fibrated wood pulp to be deposited upon the wire mesh belt 6apassage through the chamber 2a. In order to retain this layer offibrated wood pulp in position on the under side of belt 6a, asupporting belt H is provided to cooperate with the belt 6a, thesupporting belt being actuated by power applied to pulley l2. The beltII is provided with an idler roller l3 and with a tightening roller Hwhich lever Ha pivoted at end by 16a.

is carried by'one end of the lid and weighted at its other In order tocompletely seal the prevent the ingress of atmospheric air, thechamberis provided with a plate H which is disposedimmediately behindthe belt in Fig. l as conthat divides the receptacle I 6a at the pointat which the belt leaves the interior of the chamber. This plate Hcooperates with the belt i I and with the resilient plate 12 mounted onthe outside of the chamber and pressing against the roller l3 to preventthe ingress of atmospheric air. A gravity roller 12 is provided tocooperate with a similar plate 14 in the chamber 2 and with a similarresilient plate 15 on the outside of the chamber 2 so as to seal thischamber against the ingress of atmospheric air.

' It will be seen from the above that by means of the apparatus so fardescribed two loosely felted webs of fibrated wood pulp 20 and 20a arecontinuously formed and withdrawn from the bicameral receptacle intowhich the fibrated wood pulp is fed; the web 20 being carried by thebelt 6 and the web 200. being carried between the belts 6a and l I.These two webs are superby means of the device 2| and circumfusingmaterial I8 is also applied thereto by means of the apparatus IS. .Thedeodorizing material which is preferably in the form of a dry powder isdeposited continuously over the upper surface of the web 20. Anyapparatus desired may be used for this purpose and the apparatus 2|shown as a conventional showing of any type of apparatus. It may forexample contain a revolving dered material whereby the material isapplied uniformly to the surface of the web.

The circumfusing material which may be in the nature of liquid starch isapplied to the up-. per face of the web 20 after the deodorant hasalready been applied thereto. The starch therefore serves to entrap thepowder and thereby placed centrally between the webs leaving marginalportions of adjacent faces of the web that are not covered by the gauze.

The two webs 20 and 20a, one of them having the deodorant and the liquidstarch applied to one face, are superposed with the reinforcbetween thetwo webs at a 75 ing strip i6 disposed instead of being applied bath ofstarch solution H13 so or other circumfusing the apparatus tinuouslyonthe under point adjacent to the roller la.- and at that point are mergedto formthe duplex web 1 6. H V

Fig. 1a, shows another form of theapparatus shown in. Fig. 1. Theapparatus shown in this figure is in all respects identical with thatshown in Fig. l with only the modification that the starch solution orother circumfus'ing material to the face of the lower web 20. as in Fig.l, is applied to one face of the intermediate gauze" 16. For thispurpose the gauze ,roll I5 is mountedat the point shown in Fig. 1a andthe gauze passes over the guide roll 100,;(which as shown is placed at aslight angle in order to center the gauze) andbetween the rollers l0!and I02 which are associated wlththe I I that the starch material isapplied to the lower face of the gauze IS, The gauz'e'f IG is then fedbetween the two webs'20a. and in the manner described 'hereinabove. Whenthis form of is used the starch is applied conface of the gauze i6.

,. When the two webs are superposed to form the the roller 11 is loweredinto power driven roll 22 posed immediately over ,diately over the roll23, being duplex web' 16 the layer of gauze and starch serveto entrapthe deodorant and to hold the same interiorly of the pad. j V

While Fig.5 shows 'the distribution of the starch when theapparatusshown in Fig. l is used, where the starch isappliedintermittently, it will be understood that whenFig. la is used thestarch is continuous with the duplex web.

The duplexweb is fed by the belt 6 and the onto the endless belt 34 Fig.2. A driven pressure roll 23 isdisthe roll 22. The vertical positionoftheroll 23;,maybe varied for the purpose of adjusting the pressurebetween the two rolls and thereby determine the degree of packing andfelting of the webs. The webs are, however, always left in the looselyfelted condition sothat they remain readily disintegrable in water. Anauxiliary pressure, roller 11 is disposed imme- S, thisroller 11, likeroller also vertically adiustable. Under nor- -mal conditions therollerI1 is maintained in a shown in positionwhich clears the surface of the.duplex web 16 so that it does not enter into "the operation of themachine. Under some conditions, however, it is desired to apply somepressure to the duplex web 16 prior toits passage through the pressureroller'23. Under these conditions the desired pressure contact with theweb 16 and is driven at the surface speed of the web so as tosubject'the duplex web I6 to a preliminary compression.

It will be seen from the abovethat the duplex [web 16 leaves theapparatus shown in Fig. 1

after there is incorporated therein the desired amount of deodorant, thedesired" amount of starch which is illustrative of the, circumfusingmaterial andareinforcing gauze strip 16. I

While the duplex web16 in'thiscondition may if desired be severed intoportions of desired length to correspond to the amount necessary for thefinished napkinand then wrapped into the outer gauze wrapper, with anauxiliary wrapper of I prefer to 'providethe web readily disintegrablesheeted material such as sheeted cellulose which will give the pad addedstrength and consistency and will prevent any possibilityof'the paddisstorage and -trans-' integrating during packaging, portation. Theapparatus in-Fig. 2 manner in which shows the plied to the continuousduplex "web I6. apparatus two'or more reels 21, 21a, carrying sheetedcellulose of the stripper rolls The two or more webs superposed, and forthe purpose of the further description, willbe consideredas one web 80.If desired, a single reel having a web of the desired number of plieswound thereon, may be employed instead of the reels 21, 2111, etc.The'sheeted cellulose isfed by the feed belt which is actuated by powerapplied to the pulley 29. The feed belt is also carried overthe idlerpulley 30', the pulleys 29 and 30 beingdisposed "at the, endsrespectivelyof the table 8| over which theibelt 28 travels. The shafts3| and Ma of. the respective reels 2l and-21a are supported-in slottedguides 32 and 320, so that, regardless oftheamount of 18 and 19 and thebelt 28.

of sheeted; cellulose are are fed continuously by means 4 paper on thereel, it always rests on the feed belt.

g The web which is composed of two or more v layers ofsheeted cellulosepasses over the spreader bar 8 I, between the rollers 82 and 83 and overthe roller 84 and belt 34 which travels over 'thetable 24 "When the web80 passes between the'rollers 82 and 83 parafhn or other waterrepellantis apof the web 80 andover a selected and predetermined portionthereof. paraffin reservoir provided with a heating element 86 and with81 which transfers the paraflin to the marking roller 82. Thecylindrical face of the marking roller 82 is preferably so shaped thatit applies the parafiin only' to the desired portion of the web 80.Themarking portion of the roller 82 is preferably so designed that theparaffin is applied to the overlapping portions of the web 80 leavingthe central portion of the 85 shows a over the duplex web of fibrat'edwood pulp 16 the paraffined portions of the webcome in contact with oneface of the web 16 and the lateral edges thereof leaving means fluidreadily enters the pad onone face and'is prevented from passing outofthe ,lower face of the pad. i

The web 80,

table 24, the web BO being disposed below the web .16. During its travelon thetable 2 the web 80 is first forced. into the trough 26, as isindicatedin Fig. 10. ,The projecting .edgesofthe web 80 are subsequentlyfolded over the duplex strip of fibrated wood pulp in ner by means ofplowshare folders or the like which are illustrated in Fig.2schematically at 88. The power drivengbelt 25a cooperates with theapparatus illustrated in Fig. 3. I I

Referring to Fig. 3: after leaving belts 34, and 2511, the paper-coveredstrip offibrated wood pulp from which the pads are tobe formedis drawntowith its paraffined face uppermost, is carried by ,the belt 34,travelling over the a well known man belt 34 tOl carry the duplex web 15wrapped with i the auxiliary wrapper 80 onto'theportion f the the rightby intermittently acting cooperative feed belts'43 and'43a, driven bypower actuated pulleys pulleys 45' and the belts75 44 and a and runningover idler 45a, respectively. -The movement of tinuous, the interruptionof readily distinguish the ervoir 81.

may be controlled in any well-known manner, as by automatically actingclutches alternately driving and interrupting the drive of poweractuated pulleys 44 and 44a. The purpose of so intermittently feedingthe wrapped strip is to. permit of cutting the pads therefrom. This isaccomplished by means offthe punch 46 and the cooperating die 41, whichcut from the strip pieces of the shape indicated by the referencenumeral 48 (Fig. 5), thus providing a covered pad having rounded ends.The portions 48 fall through the tube 98. The feeding of belts 34-25abeing conthe feed by belts 43-43a, in order to allow time for thepunching of the pads, results in the formation of a loop in the strip,which loop is indicated by the reference numeral 45 (Fig. 3).

However, the feeding rate of belts 43-43a exceedsthat of belts 34-25a tosuch an extent that this slack is taken up by the next forward feedingmovement of said belts 43--43a.

It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the pad, when separated from the stripby the action of the punch and die, overhangs the die. With the nextforward movement of the strip, the pad is carried to the conveyor belt50, which belt is drawn over a table 5| by a power actuated pulley 68(Fig. 4). This conveyor belt is provided with idler pulleys 52 and 54a(Fig. 4). The function of the belt is to carry a strip of gauze uponwhich the pad is deposited, and to wrap the edges of such gauze aboutthe pad.

The reel 55 supplies the gauze which constitutes the wrapper for thenapkin. The gauze is fed under the severed portions 90 of absorbentmaterial, the severed portions being placed on the belt 50 in spacedrelation so as to permit sufficient gauze between the successiveportions 80 to provide for the end flaps of the finished napkin. Thegauze is guided onto the table 5! by rollers 9|, 92, 93, 94, and 95.

In view of the fact that one face of the finished napkin in its finalform contains a protective layer of water repellant material it isnecessary to providesome means on the napkin which will protected facefrom the unprotected face. The invention therefore providessuch anindication in the form of a colored printed stripe extending lengthwiseof the gauze wrapper.

This stripe is formed by providing an inking roller 96 which is partlyimmersed in an ink res The strip of wrapper gauze passes over the inkingroller 96 before it reaches the table 5|.

The table 5! is provided with a trough and folding plowshares indicateddiagrammatically at 64 and 64a for folding ina well-known manner thesides of thegauze strip over the pad.

Upon leaving the table 5|, the continuous strip of gauze'wrapper,together with the pads inclosed thereby, passes through a shearingdevice (Fig. 4)

comprising a stationary cutter 65 and a rotating cutter 66 by whichshearing device the gauze wrapper is cut into the desired length betweenthe pads. The napkins assembled in the manner described are then carriedby the conveyor belt 61 either to a folding table or to other apparatus'for automatically folding the end flaps.

The'completed napkin is shown in the side elevation in Fig. 6, the gauzecovering being indicated by reference numeral 63.

A top plan view of the completed napkin. drawn to a larger scale thanFig. 6, is shown in Fig. 7. Several layers of the napkin are indicatedas broken away in order to illustrate the structural details. Referencenumeral 63 indicates the gauze wrapper; the numerals 39 and 40 indicatethe inner and outer webs of the auxiliary wrapper of sheeted. cellulose;the numeral I04 indicates the identifying color stripe. The numeral I 6indicates the strip of reinforcing gauze and the reference characters 20and 20a indicatethe two layers of fibratedwood pulp. The referencecharacter 10 indicates the area over which the starch has been applied.7 I f Fig. 8 shows a section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 6. In this viewthe deposit of deodorant and starch are indicated by the referencenumeral 69 and the deposit of paraflin is indicated by the referencenumeral 42.

Fig. 9 shows the auxiliary wrapper of sheeted cellulose 40 and thestippled area 42 shows the layer of paraffin or other water repellingagent.

As described above, the napkin is so constructed that the smooth facethereof is worn against the body of the wearer, thereby obviating theirritation'resulting from the contact of the overlapping portionsagainst the body. For this reason the paraffin is applied to the innerface of the auxiliary wrapper in such a manner that the folded portionsare rendered impervious to moisture. The central portion of theauxiliary wrapper, having a width substantially equal to the width ofthe web 16. is unparaffi ned, the marginal areas being parafiined, sothat when the wrapper is folded over the web 15, the lateral edges aswell as one face of the web is rendered impervious to moisture. Ifdesired the portion that folds over first is parafiinedacross its entirearea, while the other portion is paraffined only over that portion ofunparaflined.

The colored stripe, which differentiates the impervious face of thenapkin is also applied over the folded portion'of the gauze wrapper; orif desired two stripes may beprinted folded portion.

It is understood that if desired the paraffin may bev applied to thecentral portion of the auxiliary wrapper so that the smooth face andlateral stripe would then be applied centrally of the gauze web.

The color stripe or stripes on the gauze may be applied to the gauze asabove desired they may be applied to the outer face of the auxiliarywrapper.

The color'stripe may also bea'pplied to either or both of the wrappers,when the web is being manufactured. Particularly, during the process ofmanufacture, colored thread may. be woven chambers in the form of twovertically spaced loosely felted webs, applying circumfusing mate- 7upper face of said lower web, superposing said sorbent pad material,continuously feeding one or more webs of sheeted cellulose, subjectingone webs to form a duplex web of ab-,

70 to one face of one of said webs, superposing said webs to form aduplex web with the circumfusing I. i pads comprising the i oflpsaidduplex web, continuously feeding a web.

of gauze wrapping material, wrapping said, gauze about said severedportions andintermittently.

severing said gauze Lwrapper.

.2. :The continuous process of making sanitary steps of continuouslyfeed ing, fibrated woodpulp into. a bicameral receptacle, continuouslywithdrawing said pulp from form of two loosely felted said chambers inthe a duplexweb of absorbent pad material, con-I tinuously feeding oneor more webs of sheeted cellulose of ,at leasttwicethewidth of theduplexweb, wrappingsaidsheeted cellulose around said tently. severing saidduplex web, intermittently severing portions of said duplex .web,continuously feedin-g'a web, of

exterior gauze wrapping material, wrapping said gauze about saidsevered. portions and intermitgauze wrapper. *1

r 3; The continuous process of making, sanitary pads comprising thestepsof continuously'feeding fibrated .wood pulp into a bicameral receptacle,continuously. withdrawing said pulp from each of said chamberstin'theform of two loosely felted webs, intermittently applying circumfusingmae terialover predeterminedareas of one face of one" of said webs,superposing said webs to form a duplex web of absorbentpad material,-continuously feeding one. or more webs of sheeted cellu 'loseof at leasttwice the width of the duplex web, wrapping said sheeted cellulosearound said duplex web and intermittently severing portions.

of said duplex web. I

, 4; The process, of making sanitary pads com-- prising the steps ofcontinuously feeding fibrated wood pulp into a bicameralqreceptacle',continuously withdrawing said pulp from eachof said' chambers .in theform, of'two loosely felted webs,

said pulp from each of said applying a deodorant continuously over. oneface rial over limited portions applying a deodorant continuously overone face of one of said webs, applying circumfusing mate rial overlimited portions of one face of one of said webs, superposing said websto form a duplex web of, absorbent pad material, continuously feedingone or more ,webs' of sheeted cellulose,

wrapping'said sheetedcellulose aroundsaid duplex web andintermittentlysevering portions of said duplex web.

5. The process of malringsanitary pads comously withdrawing I chambersin the form oftwo loosely felted webs,

of one of said webs, applying circumfusing mateof one saidwebs,'superposi ng said webs to form a duplex web of absorbentpadmaterialpwithjsaid said" circumfusing material disposedinteriorly'thereof, continuously feeding one. 'or' more webs of sheetedcellulose, wrapping said deodorant and sheeted cellulose around saidduplex web and intermittently severing portions of said duplex web.

6. The process of making sanitary pads comprising the steps of formingtwo webs of absorbent pad material, applying circumfusing materialmaterial disposed interiorly thereof, associating with said duplex web aweb of waterproofed sheeted cellulose, severing portions of said duplexbe'rs, means for forming a loosely fi'occulent fibrous material on eachof the opposface of one of oneof said webs, means for applying acircumfusing-agent to one of said webs, means for superposing said websto form a duplex web, means for associating sheeted absorbent anddisintegrable material with said duplex web, means for render,- ing a"portion ofsaid sheeted material impervious to moisture, anintermittently operable cutter for severing portions of said duplex'web,means for intermittently feeding said duplex web to said cutter, meansfor associating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with saidseveredportions,"and an intermittently operable cutter for said gauze wrapper.

8. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising abicameral receptacle, a conveyor belt passing through each of saidchaming faces of said belts, means for applying a 'deodorizing agent toone of 'said webs, means for applying a circumfusing agent to one ofsaid webs, means for superposing said webs to form a duplex wen-meansfor associating sheeted absorbent and disintegrable material with saidduplex web, means for'rendering a portion of said sheeted materialimpervious to moisture, an intermittently operable cutter forseveringportions of said duplex web, means for intermittently feeding saidduplex web to said cutter, means for associating a continuous web ofgauze wrapper with said severed portions, and an intermittently operablecutter for said gauze wrapper;

9. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising abicameral receptacle, a conveyor belt passing through'each of saidchambers, means for forminga loosely felted web of fiocculent fibrousmaterial on each of the opposing faces of said belts, means for applyinga deodorizing agent to one of said webs, means for superposing said websto form a duplex web, means for associating sheeted absorbent anddisintegrable material with said duplex web, means for rendering aportion of said sheeted material impervious to moisture, anintermittently operable cutter for severing portions of said duplex web,means for intermittently feeding said duplex web to said cutter,means'for associating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with saidsevered portions, and an intermittently operable cutter for said gauzewrapper.

10. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising abicameral receptacle, a conveyor belt passing through each of saidchambers, means for forming a loosely felted web of felted web of belts,means for applying'a (16- 5 11. Apparatus for the manufacture ofsanitary napkins comprising a .bicameral receptacle, a conveyor beltpassing through each of said chambers, means for forming a looselyfelted web of fiocculent absorbent material on each of the opposingfaces of said belts, means for applying a circumfusing agent to one ofsaid webs, means for superposing said webs to form a duplex web, meansfor associating sheeted absorbent and disintegrable material with saidduplex Web, a cutter for severing portions of said duplex web, means forassociating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with said severedportions, and a cutter for said gauze wrapper.

12. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising, meansfor forming a loosely felted web of fiocculent fibrous absorbentmaterial, means for wrapping said web in sheeted absorbent anddisintegrable material, a cutter for severing portions of said web,means for associating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with saidsevered portions, and a cutter for said gauze wrapper.

13. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising meansfor forming a loosely felted web of fioccuient fibrous material, meansfor wrapping said web in sheeted absorbent and disintegrable material,means for rendering a portion of said sheeted material impervious tomoisture, a cutter for severing portions ofsaid web, means forassociating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with said severedportions, and a cutter for said gauze wrapper.

14. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising meansfor forming a duplex loosely felted web of fiocculent fibrous materialholding deodorizing material interiorly thereof,

means for wrapping said web in sheeted absorbent and disintegrablematerial, means for rendering a portion of said sheeted materialimpervious to moisture, a cutter for severing portions of said web,means for associating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with saidsevered portions, and a cutter for said gauze wrapper.

15. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising meansfor forming a duplex loosely felted web of flocculent fibrous materialhaving a stratum of circumfusing material disposed interiorly thereof,means for associating sheeted absorbent and disintegrable material withsaid duplex web, a cutter for severing portions of said web, means forassociating a continuous web of gauze wrapper with said severedportions, and a cutter for said gauze wrapper.

16. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising meansfor forming a duplex loosely felted web of flocculent fibrous material,having a stratum of circumfusing material disposed interiorly thereof,means for associating sheeted absorbent and disintegrable material withsaid duplex web, means for rendering a portion of said sheeted materialimpervious to moisture,

a cutter for severing portions of said web, means for associating acontinuous web of gauze wrapper with said severed portions, and a cutterfor said gauze wrapper.

17. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins comprising meansfor forming a duplex loosely felted web of fiocculent fibrous materialhaving a stratum of circum'i'using and deodorizing napkins, a bicameralreceptacle for fioccuient fibrous material, a conveyor belt passingthrough each of said chambers, means, forforming. a loosely felted webof fiocculent fibrous material on each of the opposing faces of saidbelts, means for applying a deodorizing agentto one of said webs, meansfor applying a circumfusing agent to one of said webs, and means forsuperposing said webs to form a duplex web, having the deodorizing andcircumfusing material held interiorly thereof.

19. In an apparatus for the manufactured sanitary napkins, a. bicameral,receptacle forfiocculent fibrous absorbent material, an endless conveyorpassing through each of said chambers for forming two loosely feltedwebs of said material, means for applying deodorizing material tooneface of one of said webs, and means for superposing said webs to form aduplex web having the deodorizing material held interiorly thereof.

20. In the continuous process of making sanitary napkins, the steps offorming a loosely felted web of flocculent, absorbent, readilydisintegrable, cellu'losic material, feeding a web of sheeted absorbentreadily disintegrable cellulosic material, rendering the marginalportions of said sheeted web impervious to moisture, associating saidsheeted web with said first mentioned web,.and folding said marginalportions over said first mentioned web.

21. The process of making sanitary pads comprising the steps of. formingtwo webs of absorbent pad material, superposing said webs andinterposing between said webs permeable sheeted material impregnatedwith circumfusing materlal, associating with said'webs waterproofedsheeted cellulose, severing portions of the duplex web, and wrappingsaid severed portions in a gauze wrapper.

22. Apparatus for the manufacture of sanitary napkins, comprising meansfor pneumatically feeding loose, fibrated material from a common source,means for dividing such material into two streams, means for forming thedivided streams into separate webs or belts, and means for there afterfeeding the separate webs or belts into superposed relation to form aduplex web.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim. 22, in which provision is made ofadjustable means for controlling the proportion in which the fibratedmaterial is divided between the two streams, and for thereby controllingthe relative thicknesses of the webs formed.

HARRISON R. WILLIAMS.

